Soap-dispensing machine.



H. R. EVANS. SOAP DISPENSING MACHINE. APPLIG ATION FILED DBO.10, 1910.

Patented Sept.'1, 1914.

TI1E NORRIS PETERS C04, PHOTO-LiTHQ. WASHINGTON. D. (:V

f naive? a. EVANS, or nnvvwzomc, a. Y., Assmivonmo .em a a soar coMrAnY,

1 ampon-Arron or "new 3503K.

sonr-fmsrnnsrive MAC -Inn; Y

To all 207mm it may concern: 1

Be it known that L H'ENRY R. EvAns, a.

citizen of the United "Stat'esQand a resident of New York city, county and State of New York, havefinventedlcentain new. and

a useful Improvements in Soap-Dispensing Machines, ofwhich thefollowing isaispecr fication. l

' My invention relates to soap dispensing machines, and more particularly to machines for dispensingsolid soap. One of the objects of my invention is to provide an -eflicient "and durable soap dis )ensing machine by -means of which the interlocks on the cakes of soap which holddue to the breaking and crumbling of the cakes when they become greatly reducedin thickness. In the preferred form ofmy invention, I accomplish this by providinga dished cuttervvith "a coaxial soap-locking device held in close proximity thereto, and of such shape and construction as to insure the entire consumptionof the reduced cakes of soap.

Another object of my invention is to produce relative motion betweenthe locking device and cutter by meansof .a spindle passing centrally throughrthe cakes of soap;

Other objects of my invention; such 'as the manner of'supportingi and arranging the cooperating parts of-my machine,"vvil1 more fully hereinafter appear. The present embodiment ofmy invention is illustrated in a machine whichis of the same general construction :and appearance as that disclosed man appllcatlon to Otls H. Kean and 'myself-Serial No. 572,318,

filed July 16, 1910; but I do not wish to be understood as limiting the di fl erentfeatures' of my invention to this or anyother type-or form of machine other than as specifically pointed out in the appended claims, since different features of my invention may be types of machines.

used in various combinations indifferent My invention will %best be Application filed December 1.0, 1910. seriamo.

' ent embodiment of my 4 1s a view looking down upon the inside of understood from spam-cm of ls i e {Pate ted-se t. 1., 1914..

the following d'escriptionjtaken in connec- =tion with the accompanying drawings. a

which I Figure l is an elevation, partly in section, of a machineillustrating "the present rembodiment of my invention; Fig. 2is1a per- *spective view ofa part of the same, showing the preferred v form of cu-tter' a'nd soap en gaging-and locking'means; Fig; 3 is an elevation ofthe form of cutter used 'in'the presinvention; andFig.

the soap follower which, in the-present form of my invention, is the upper receptacle, and showing cavities or depres SlOIlSthQFBlIl which register with the, upper lend of the soap-locking device.

' [Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1: l is an inclined supportingshank having an enlarged head '2 which may be in theiform of a collar or projection secured to the top of the shank, of the shank shown inthe illustration.

In the present embodiment of my invention, a cylindrical member 3 forming one of the receptacle members for the soap, is se- 1n any des red manner, a,

cured to the head 2 and as illustrated 'i-n the drawingfit may consist of a section of brass tubing suitably secured :to'the' head 2 by: pins or otherwise The. shank "1 is provided with a socket or passageway fl formed therein; for receiving and concealing a -spindle 5 hereinafter re- *ferredgto,

tapering portion; 6, and a tube *7 in the socket or itherelnupon-the curved portlon 6. The tube 7 issecuredwitlrin the socketin any desired manner, and the shank head 2 may be turned L,

down in anysuitable manner tofitthe cylinsdnlcal'member3,

member of the i or it may-form an integral part 7 The lcwver part of this socket or 1 passageway is preferably formed with a p is inserted passageway and is centered In t-he present embodiment of my inven I tion, Iprovide a lock case 8in'ountedon top of the'floor membero r enlarged shank head 2 and fastened thereto by any suitable means and'havmg a part Q' fitting concentrically over thetube'R'T to properly adjust and hold iiterfrom lateral movement with J respect to thetube, .-and toform 1 a level seat for the cutter. Thelo'ck casing, in this instance,

constitutes a part of the bottom or end member of the receptacle; Within this case is mounted :a spring-pressed locking "finger or plunger 10, the I head of which projects through a suitable opening 11 in fthe wall of the tube, and into engagement with vthe spindle 5. The particular construction and arrangement 'of this lock casing andthe locking plunger 10, as well as the construc tion and arrangement of the hollow shank and enlarged head 2,vform no part ofmy present invent on, the same being fully described and claimed in the above mentioned application Serial No. 572,318.

The lock case 8 andthe shank head 2 upoii which the case ismounted, are of such shape and size as to leave a suitable opening 12 at one end of the receptacle through which the soap is dispensed. I i Within the receptacle a su table cutter is provided for dispensing the soap, and in the present embodiment of my invention a dished cutter 13 is utilized, which is mountv .ed at thedelivery end of the receptacle, fitting loosely and concentrically over the tube 7. The cutter has a slight clearance with respect to the cylindrical member 3, and is provided with a projection 14 extending loosely between the tube and the lock casing,

and loosely engaging the locking finger, thus permitting a certain amount of movement of; the cutter, but preventing its withdrawal. On account of this loose fit of thecutter within the receptacle and its loose engagement with the finger andthe adjacent parts,

,the cutter may center itself with respect to the soap, thus maintaining an automatic balance of external forces on the soap and reducing any tendency of the soap to bind around the central shaft, thus diminishing the consequent liability of splitting the soap.

In order, tovdispense with the interlocks between adjacent cakes of soap, which have been heretofore used for transmitting mo tion from one cake'to the other, it has been pr oposed to use fins or webs engaging in grooves in the eakesojf soap to lock them to v gether duringthe dispensing process; but in all of the arrangements heretofore used,

the construction and arrangement of the soap-locking device and the cutter; have been such that after the cake of soap adjacentthe 1 cutter has been consumed so as to leave a thin section of soap, the stresses and strains produced 'inthe soap by means of the relative rotation of the lockingfldevice and fcutrte-r, have caused the reduced cake of soap to crack and crumble into fragments which were allowed to fall through the delivery end of the receptacle, resulting in the waste of this portion of the cake, thusrendering such devices unfit for practical commercial use. In order to overcome these difficulties,

I propose to provide a soap-engaging and locking device which engagesgthe cakes of soap centrally, and which is positioned in extremely closeproximity to the cutter; and in the best' embodiment of my invention, I utilize dished cutters which: may be conical v r r, 1,108,982

"or bowl shaped, and I mount the soap-locking device in close proximity to the smooth inner surface thereof with the extremity of the soap-locking part adjacent the cutter formed substantially parallel to the adj acent' face 'of the cutter. Such a. construction is shown in the present embodiment of my invention-in which the soap-locking device 15 consists of asleevelti having one or more, and preferably at least three, radial projecting fins 17 the extremities 18 of whichadjacent the cutter aremade inclined so as to be parallel with the adjacent wall of the cutter. Inv the present embodiment of my invention,

this sleeve is held inposition above the cut-V ter by means of an inward radial projecting tip or lug 19, the lower end of which rests vertical groove 22 into which extends the inwardly projecting tip lS) of the sleeve 16.

The spindle 5 is provided with a series of grooves 23 which'may be ratchet shaped, and into which the locking plunger 10 extends. By means of these grooves or steps out in the spindle, which may be arranged at anydesired distance apart,-pthe locking finger engages above the shoulder of each groove as.

the spindle is fed down into the sleeve 7, thus eiiectua'lly preventing the upper rcceptacle member from being lifted from any position which it assumes during the dispensing process, and then slammed down upon the soap, resulting in the breaking of they soap or displacement and disarrangement of the internal parts of themachine,

but permitting the spindle to move down as the soap is consumed. r

In order; that afresh cake of soap may be placed in the machine before the upper receptacle member moves down'to its lowest position, namely, with the inner surface of the head 20 in-engagement with the upper.

rim of the receptacle 3, I arrange the soaplocking device to extend a certain distance above theupper rim of receptacle ,3, and I then provide cavities, grooves or openings 24lin the soap followermember which, in the present.instance,ois'the head 20. 1 After a certain amount of soap has been consumed, the-upper end of the locking pro ections telescope in these cavities until a fresh cake of soap is placed in the machine. it vWVith the arrangement and particular construction of the embodiment of the invention shown, the machine can not be refilled until the upper receptacle member has moved down low enough for the upper edge "of the locking device to telescope with the cavities 22 in thehead, since there will be noprojecting portion of the soap-locking device above the soap to engagethenevv the breaking and crumbling oflthe reduced cakes of soap is greatly lessened, if not en:

.tirely overcomefl This is due to the fact that the smooth surface of the cutter. supports the soap on allsid'es, and the central portion of the reduced cake of soap, Where it is engaged by the locking device, is rela-' tively thick in cross section, and also the leverage of the cutter on the soap is relatively small.

In the present embodiment of my inven tion, the conical cutter and the soap-'en'gag-i ing device with its plurality of radial-projections tapered in the-manner shown, form; together a plurality of conical -con1partinents which, even if the reduced cake of soap adjacent the cutter should crumble after being practically used up, the frag,

mentary parts of the cakeWould be firmly confined in these conical compartments, and,

-being pressed down upon the cutter by the pressure of the adjacent upper cake of soap, will be held compactly and forced intoengageinent With the cutter so as to be dispensed in fine granules or shavings until completely consumed. 1

fi/ hile I have described with particularity the present embodiment of my invention,

namely, in cennectionivith a machine hav a stationary cutter arranged concentric With a revolving soap-locking device, and With the receptacle members telescoping dur-' ing the dispensing operation, it: is obvious that certain broad features of my invention are not limited to any particular 'forin or type of machine.

Numerous combinations of certain features'of my invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the-art, which combinations may be utilized-With various forms and types of machines now known, and as far relates to certain broad features of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to a machine having telescoping receptacle -members, or to the use of stationary cutters,

or cutters of any particular form or construction, or to a concentric arrangement of the cutter and soap-locking device, or to! the particular construction oi the soap-locking device or any other feature; other than as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

llz i ving thus d escrihed my "invention, What; I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: i I 1. In a soap dispensing machine, the comjacent cakes of soap, said relative movement bination of a soap receptacle, cutter mounted atthe delivery end of said dished soap cutter mounted bination of a soap receptacle,a,dished cutter c in engageriient W-ith and; 'surrounjding one extremity of the soap to be dispensed, a deviceengaging and locking together the [adjacent cakes of soap, said device being positioned adjacent the cutter substantially concentrictherewith and extending toward the cutter beyond the upper edgetherecf, a spindle extendingabove and below said device and j ourna'led at its end adjacent the 1 cutter, and means for producing relative movementbetween said device and cutter.

2. In a soap dispensing machine, the coinbination ,of a soapreceptacle, a dished 'cuta terin. engagement with and surrounding one extremit ofthe soa to bedis )ensed a device engaging and locking together. the,

adjacent i-cakes of soap, said device being positioned adjacent the cutter substantially concentric.therewith and a spindle passing througlisaid device and connected to rotate therewith, and means for rotating said spindleand device. I

In asoap dispensing machine, theconibinationof a soap receptacle, dished cue: ter in engagement With and surrounding one" extremity of the soap to be dispensed, a device eng'aging end locking together the addevice "being positioned adjacenththe cutter substantially concentric therewith and extendinginto close proximity to the apex of-the cutter, a rotating spindle passing through said device, and means rotating the spindle and causing between said cutter and 1 device. p

4. In asoap dispensing machine, the coma dished soap receptacle, and means engaging the cakes r of soap to lock them together, saidlocking means also :mounted at the deliveryend of said receptacle coaxialsvvith said cutter and extending toward the cutter beyond the outer end thereofand relatively movable r0? tatively With respeet thereto.

5. In a, soap dispensing machine, the combination of a soap receptacle, a stationary at the delivery end of said receptacle, andmeans engaging thecakes of soap to lock them together, said locking means also mounted at the delivery end ofsaid receptacle coaxial With said cut ter, and a spindle extending on each side/of said locking means-and j ournaled at the end thereof adjacent the cutteryand means for rotating the spindle and locking means.

6; Inasoapdispensing machine, theeoin-.

binatien of a soap receptacle, a projection from the delivery end thereof, a soap cutter supported from said end substantially coaxial vvith said projection, and means engag-' ing the cakes of soap to. lockthe'm together, said inepns also supported from the delivery end substantially concentric with the projection and relatively movable rotatively with respect to said projection.v a

7 In a soap dispensing machine, the com-' bination of a soap receptacle having a bottom from which it is supported, a projection from said bottom, a soap cutter supported by, said bottom substantially coaxialiwith said projection, and means engaging the cakes of soap to lock them together, saidk and rotatively movable with respect to the 9. In a soap dispensing machine, the combination of a soap receptacle having a bot tom from which it is supported, a projection from said bottom substantially coaxial with; the receptacle, a soap cutter supported by said bottom and through which said projec-j, tion passes, and a device engaging and locking the cakes of soap together, mounted on said projection and rotatively movable with respect to the cutter.

10. In a soap dispensing machine, the com-;

bination of a soap receptacle, a projectionfrom the delivery end thereof, a stationary soap cutter supported at the delivery end and through which said projection passes, and a device engaging and locking the cakes of soap together, mounted rotatively onsaid projection and supported thereon in close proximity to but out of contactwith the cut-' ter, and means for rotating said device.

11. in a soap disp'ensing'machine, the com-- bination of a soap receptacle having a bot- .tom from which it is supported, a projection from said bottom substantially coaxial with the. receptacle, a stationary dished 'soap cut-- ter supported by said bottom and through which said projection passes, and a device engaging and locking the cakes of soaptogether, mounted rotatively on said projection and supported thereon in close proximity to, but out of contact with the cutter, and means for rotating said device.-

12. In a soap dispensing machine,the combination of a soap receptacle, a soap cutter mounted at the delivery end of the recep-j tacle, a hollow projection extending from. said end, a device engaging and locking the cakes oi: soap together, mounted rotatively; on said hollow projection, and a spindle fit ting within, said hollow projection and en-' gaging said device to rotate the cakes of soap relative to the cutter. r

13. In a soap dispensing machine, the com-,

bination of a soap receptacle, a dished soap cutter mounted in the lower part of the receptacle, a hollow projection extending from the lower part of the receptacle, adevice engaging and locking the cakes of soap, together, mounted rotatively on said hollow 'projection,'and a spindle fitting within said hollow projection andengaging said device 1 to. rotate, the cakes of soap relative to the cutter.

14. In a soap dispensing machine, the comhinationot a soap receptacle having an end zinember, a tubular projection extending from the end member, a stationary soap cutter fitting over said projection, a device engaging and locking the cakes of soap together and mounted rotatively on said tubular projection, and a spindle fitting within said -tubular projection'and engaging said device to. rotate the cakes of soap.

15. In a soap dispensing machine, the combination of a soap receptacle having an end member, a stationary soap cutter mounted on said end member, a tubular projection eXteuding centrally from said member through the cutter, a sleeve mounted on the tubular projection and provided with one or more radial fins engaging and locking the cakes of soap together, and a spindle fitting within the tubular projection and engaging the sleeve to rotate the cakes of soap with respect to the cutter. I 1G. in a soap dispensing machine, the combination c1 a soap receptacle, a hollow projection from one end of said receptacle, soap cutter supportedat said end of the receptacle, a device engaging and locking the cakes of soap together, mounted rotatively on the hollow projection above the cutter,

and a rotatable spindle extending through the receptacle nto the hollow projection and having a. sliding connection with said soapengaging device for rotating the soap relative-to the cutter.

'17. In a soap dispensing machine, the combination of a soap receptacle having an end member, a tubular projection extending from said end member, a stationary soap cutter fittin over said projection, a device engaging and locking the cakes of soap to gether and mounted rotatively on said tubular projection, a spindle fitting within the tubular projection and movable l0ngitudinally t .erein during the dispensing process, and a sliding connection between the soap-t; engaging device and said spindle for rotating'the cakes of soap with respect to the cutter. w

. 18, In a soap dispensing machine, the combination of a receptacle having an end member, a tubular projection from said member, a dished soap. cutter supported on said member, asleeve rotatively mounted on said projection above the cutter and provided with three or more fins engaging and ble: spindle extending; through locking the cakes of soaptogethenga rotatathe receptacle, and into said tubular projection and, movable longitudinally therein duringj the dis pensing process, and a sliding connection between said spindle and sleeve whereby the cakes or soap, are rotated relative to the out 19. In a soap dispensing machine, the combination of a receptacle member, a soap cutter supported on said member, a tubular projection extending within/the receptacle from said member, a device arotatively mounted on said tubular projection and above the cutter for. engaging andlocking the cakes of soap together, a second recep tacle member rotatable with respect to the first, member, and a central projection from said second receptacle member extending rice, whereby the cakes of within the tubular projection from the first member and engaging said soap-locking desoap are rotated relative to the cutter.

In a soap dispensing machine, the combination of a receptacle member, a stationary dished soap cutter supported on said member, a tubular projection extending within the receptacle from said member and through the cutter, a device rotatively mounted on said tubular projection and above the cutter for engaging and locking the cakes of tacle member rotatable with respect to the first member, and a central projection from said second receptacle member extending within the tubular projection and engaging said soap-locking device, whereby the cakes of soap are rotated relative to the cutter.

21. Ina soap dispensing machine, the combination of a dished cutter, a device locking the cakes of soap together and .arranged substantially concentric with the dished cutter, the extremity of the soap-engaging and locking portion of said .devicev ad acent the cutter being formed substan tially parallel with and arranged inclose proximity to the adjacent surface of said cutter, and means for producing relative motion between said cutter and said soapengaging and lockmg devlce.

22. In a soap dispensing machine, the combinatlon of a dished soap cutter, a device en-' gaging and locking togetherrthe cakes of soap to be dispensed, said ClBVlCB consls'tmg of a. sleeve having a plurality of radial fins the extremities of which adjacent the cutter are formed parallel with and arranged in close proximity to theadjacent surface of said cutter, means forsupporting said device in close proximity to the cutter, and means for causing relative 'movement between said device and said cutter..

23. In a soap dispensing machine, the combination of a soapreceptacle -member, a stationary dished soap cutter mounted at one soap together, asec'ond recep-- ends ofwhichadj acent the cutter are formed parallel withthe adjacent surface of the cutter, means forgsupporting. said devicesub, stantially adjacent and in close proximity to the cutter,-and means-forproducing relative'rotative movement between said sea):

engaging and locking device, andsaid cutter.

the cutter and engaging and locking 24;. In a soap dispensing machine, the combination of a rece Jtacle havin an end memher, a tubular projection from said member, a dished soap cutter supported on said mom:

her, sleeve mounted on said projection adjacent the cutter and provided with one or more fins engaging and locking the cakes of soap together, the ends of the fins adjacent the cutter being substantially parallel with the adjacent surface of said cutter, a rotatable spindle extending through the receptacle and into said tubular projection, and means rotating said spindle and device,

, 25. In a soap dispensing machine, the combination of a receptacle member, a dished soap cutter supported on said member and in turn supporting the cakes of soap, a tubular projection extending within the receptacle from said member, adevice rotativelymounted on said projection and above the cutter for engaging and looking the cakes of soap'together, said device having a plurality of radial fins the lower extremitlesof which are substantially parallel with and in close proximity to the-adjacent surface of the cutter, a second receptacle member rotatable with respect to the first member, and a central projection from said second member extending within the tubular projection from the first receptacle member and engaging said "soap -locking device, whereby the cakes of soap are rotated rela: tive to the cutte.

26. In a soap dispensing machine, the combination of a receptacle member, a 'stationarydished soap cutter supported on said member and in turn supporting the cakes of soap to be dispensed, a tubular projection extending from said member within thereceptacle and through the cutter, a soaplocking device consisting of asleeve rotatably mounted on said tubular projection above the cutter and provided with a plurality of radial fins engaging and locking the cakes of soap together, the lower ends of said fins being substantially parallel [with and in close proximity to the adjacent surface of said 0116661,:1, projection extending inwardly from said sleeve to support the same on the tubular projection, a second re ceptacle member rotatable with respect to the first member, from saidsecond receptacle member extend: ing within the tubular projection and proand a central projection videdwith a longitudinal groove intowhich the pro ect1on from said sleeve extends,

. whereby the cakesof soap may be rotated relative to the cutter.

'27. In a soap dispensing machine, the

ing cavities or openings therein corresponding to the cross section of said soap-locking land engaging device, whereby the follower may telescope with said device during the" 5 dispensing process, andmeans for produc' ing relative motion between the cakes of soap and said cutter including a handle rigid with the follower.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my 20 inarne to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. V i HENRY R. EVANS.

Witnesses:

EDWIN SEGER, SAMUEL M. WARD, J r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. G. i 

